(By Delegate Manypenny)
[Introduced February 13, 2013; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated §8A-7-3a, relating to
specific authorization of governing board of counties and
municipalities to enact zoning ordinances that regulate
drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the natural gas
horizontal well industry.Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended
by adding thereto a new section, designated §8A-7-3a, to read as
follows:ARTICLE 7. ZONING ORDINANCE.§8A-7-3a. Zoning; natural gas horizontal wells.
_____Notwithstanding any other code provision to the contrary,
governing boards of counties and municipalities have the authority to enact zoning ordinances to regulate drilling and hydraulic
fracturing of horizontal wells in order to protect the citizens
within their jurisdictions.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide counties and
municipalities the specific authority to enact zoning ordinances
that regulate drilling and hydraulic fracturing activity in the
natural gas horizontal well industry.